Haley Wallis, Lizzy Ketchum go extra mile at West Michigan Relays

Haley Wallis and Lizzy Ketchum knew that as seniors, their roles with the Holland girls swim team would expand. They expanded outside of their comfort zones to help the Dutch finish third at the West Michigan Relays on Saturday at Holland Community Aquatic Center. Holland finished ...

Haley Wallis and Lizzy Ketchum knew that as seniors, their roles with the Holland girls swim team would expand.

They expanded outside of their comfort zones to help the Dutch finish third at the West Michigan Relays on Saturday at Holland Community Aquatic Center.

Holland finished with 332 points, behind Rockford (372) and East Grand Rapids (354). West Ottawa (274) was fourth, Zeeland (246) was seventh and Hamilton (152) was 11th in the 16-team field.

Wallis volunteered to be a diver for the meet, giving the Dutch enough for a diving relay.

"Being able to contribute and give the freshman divers a chance to show what they can do — that is the kind of vibe we want to leave as seniors," Wallis said.

It was something Holland coach Dan Kimble won't forget.

"Haley took a hit and threw up some dives she just learned in the last week to give us a diving relay," Kimble said. "She took a lot of smacks to the water to learn those things. Sometimes you have to take one for the team, and she was willing to do that. It is huge to get a state-level swimmer up on the diving board for the team."

Wallis teamed with Abi Johns, Anika Johns and Taylor Garcia to win the 200-yard backstroke relay (1:52.67). Wallis also joined Emily Nightingale, Abi Johns and Holly Morren to take third in the 200 medley relay (1:54.95).

Ketchum, a breaststroker, anchored the butterfly relay, teaming with Garcia, Abi Johns and Anika Johns to finish second in the 200 butterfly relay (1:51.78).

"Lizzy has been through it," Kimble said. "We stretched her out of her comfort zone in the fly relay, and that was huge. She has been the vocal leader of that breaststroke group."

Ketchum also teamed with Nightingale, Emily Johns and Anna Giesler to take third in the 200 breaststroke relay (2:12.82).

She is the elder statesman of the group, which saw former state runner-up Melissa VanderMeulen graduate last year.

"I feel like I have to follow Melissa's steps," Ketchum said. "She has always been my model. It is nice to be able to feel like I can help the freshmen breaststrokers get better and become state swimmers. Just to be apart of the butterfly relay with the top swimmers was really fun."